David Aaron Gipe, Jr., 79 of St. Albans, West Virginia passed from this life on Monday August 16, 2010 after suffering a heart attack at his home.

Born on May 17, 1931 in Johnstown Pennsylvania, Mr. Gipe was the only child of David Aaron Gipe and Hilda Goebert Gipe.

David Gipe spent his formative years in Westmont, a Borough of Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He attended Westmont Upper-Yoder High School, playing basketball on the high school championship team. He continued to play basketball in college, first at the University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown Campus from 1949-1951 and later at Johns Hopkins University from 1951-1953, where he graduated in 1953 with a Bachelor of Engineering Degree. He earned a Master of Business Administration Degree from West Virginia University in 1974.

David relocated to the Kanawha Valley and began working for Union Carbide Corporation in June, 1953. He retired in June of 1996 after 43 years. He continued to work for the company as an independent contractor for a number of years following his official retirement. Once he was fully retired he focused on other pastimes including his love of travel, his stamp collection and his family. Throughout his life he was active in a number of organizations including serving as Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America, tax consultant for the AARP senior tax program, business consultant with SCORE and as a member of the Riverlake Residents Association. He was a longtime member of Lakeview United Methodist Church serving faithfully in a number of church positions.

He is survived by four children; daughters, Elizabeth (Mark) Keffer of Atlanta, GA, Holly (Allen) Stribling of St. Albans, Diana (Dennis) Hayes of San Diego, CA; son, David (Stephanie) Gipe of Winfield. In addition he has seven grandchildren, Ashley Stribling, Sean Stribling, Paige Keffer, Ross Keffer, Blair Keffer, Dustin Hayes and David Gipe. Also surviving is his former wife of 49 years, Paula Sexton Gipe of Hilton Head Island, SC.

The funeral will be held at 2:00 pm Friday August 20, 2010 at Lakeview United Methodist Church, St. Albans with the Pastor Ritchie McNeil officiating. Burial will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Thursday August 19, 2010 at Bartlett-Chapman Funeral Home, St. Albans.

Flowers are a welcome memorial; however in lieu of flowers memorial contributions in David Aaron Gipe’s Memory may be made to the National Audubon Society, 225 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014 or via online contributions at www.audubon.org.